Dr. Deborah B. Nelson is a reproductive epidemiologist with NIH-funded research focusing on early pregnancy exposures among urban women and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In particular, Dr. Nelson examines chronic sexually associated conditions, environmental stressors, genetic predisposition, and behavioral factors which influence adverse pregnancy outcomes including spontaneous preterm delivery, miscarriage, preterm labor and pelvic inflammatory disease. Dr. Nelson is an Associate Professor of Public Health and Obstetrics/Gynecology in the Department of Public Health, College of Public Health.

Dr. Nelsons’ research projects include a large prospective cohort study designed to examine the role of first and second trimester bacterial vaginosis (BV) and BV-associated bacteria and the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery and miscarriage among women receiving prenatal care in Philadelphia, a study examining the role of several exposures during pregnancy (i.e. cigarette use, alcohol use and violence) and childhood overweight, a case-control study examining the association between inter-personal violence, indicators of community violence and stress on the odds of miscarriage, and a clinic-based cohort examining factors related to risk of unintended pregnancy among young, urban women.

Dr. Nelson has published over 65 manuscripts in the area of women’s health and reproduction and co-authored a book chapter on Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

30. Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Lin H, Nelson DB. Association of Hormones and Menopausal Status with Depressed Mood in Women with No History of Depression. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2006; 63(4):375-382.